The Sound of Silence

I'm taking a small step back from the noise in my life.  Feeling the need for some silence.  This has been brewing for awhile.

This book was a providential random find at the local library.  Perfect fit.  It's been a VERY long time since I have connected so deeply with a book...

"Listen to what sounds are hidden in the most unexpected places.  Listen to what you can hear when you are not speaking."  p. 29

"Not too long ago, periods of reflection and stillness were woven into the fabric of our days as we washed dishes, prepared meals, chopped wood, mended clothing, and walked in contemplative silence.  Technology has not only accelerated the pace of our lives, it has made our lives noisier and destroyed their peaceful rhythms."  p.31

"Noise is a form of violence done to us, but we have become so accustomed to it that it barely registers...  It's as if we have come to believe that silence is a void that must be filled whatever the cost.  We no longer know how to be still.  We no longer know how to be alone.  We seem to require constant and relentless input.  We are addicted to sensory overstimulation."  p.31 

"Not knowing how to feed the spirit, we try to muffle its demands in distractions.  Instead of stilling the center, the axis of the wheel, we add more centrifugal activities to our lives - which tend to throw us off balance."  p. 34

wonderful.